Hensel & Menges. Morpho-ecologies. 2006

Michael Hensel & Achim Menges (eds.). Morpho-ecologies: Towards Heterogeneous Space In Architecture Design. Architectural Association Publications. London. 2006. 376 p. Illustrations b&w.

Ecology is the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment. This definition also suits the discipline of architecture surprisingly well: in our view one of the central tasks of architecture is to provide opportunities for habitation through specific material and energetic interventions in the physical environment. Correlating morphogenesis and ecology, we have developed a new framework for architectural design that is firmly rooted within a biological paradigm and thus concerned with issues of higher-level functionality and performance capacity. Hensel and Menges have named this approach Morpho-Ecology.

The first part of the book introduces the theoretical and methodological framework; the second part presents 20 research projects; the third part contains the proceedings of the Differentiated Systems in Nature and Design Symposium held at the AA.